Start with the use case, not the data
We use mathematical modelling to put your business problems squarely into focus. This method can be applied to anything from the strategic allocation of your advertising budget across marketing channels to technical IoT issues. You could, for example, use forecasting to determine the optimal operational mode for a physical or machine process for which you already have a great deal of domain-specific knowledge.
Modelling means understanding
We begin by talking to your domain experts in order to fully understand the use case in question. We then use the insights gained to analyse the existing data and formulate a comprehensive mathematical model. This model covers everything from the cost functions (KPIs) to be optimised to the use case’s underlying mechanisms and relationships.
Advantages of mathematical models Causality trumps correlation
Mathematical modelling is particularly suited for supporting use cases which require the understanding of causal mechanisms, such as generating recommendations for marketing activities. Our models allow us to go beyond mere predictions to provide practical (prescriptive) insights for action. This method adds a great deal of value compared to machine learning methods, which are often based on pure correlation.
Data efficiency is crucial — even for big data
As mathematical models rely heavily on domain knowledge, they are significantly more data-efficient than other types of models. Even though we live in the big-data era, labelled data is often scarce. Especially in industrial use cases, data is often highly imbalanced or has low variance. We can use specialised methods to represent and consistently estimate hierarchically structured data, as well as censored, truncated, or zero-inflated distributions.
This is in contrast to traditional machine-learning approaches, which learn these structures solely from the data fed to the model (without the benefit of domain-specific knowledge) and which are, therefore, much more data-greedy.
Transparent, interpretable, and explainable
By design, mathematical models focus on interpretability and explainability. The models’ mechanics are therefore transparent, allowing for much easier detection of biases and discrimination. This becomes particularly important when we want to use a model to support high-stakes decisions in sensitive areas, such as medicine, justice, security, or vehicle-related applications. Mathematical models also outperform machine-learning methods when it comes to extrapolation tasks, such as predicting behaviour outside the range of the data already observed.
Partnering with inovex
Choosing inovex as your partner enables you to benefit from our broad experience in different fields of mathematical modelling, such as causal modelling, hierarchical modelling, Bayesian methods or uncertainty quantification.
We would recommend beginning our collaboration with one of our workshops, where we can discuss your use case and available data in order to determine the appropriate approach.


“Risk assessment plays a crucial role in dangerous offender proceedings. While the Canadian criminal justice system relies heavily on predictions of risk, these predictions are inherently error prone. There are no ‘laws’ of behaviour that can be applied to a set of circumstances to determine the behavioural outcome that will follow. Criminal behaviour, in particular, is motivated and supported by an unquantifiable number of factors; therefore, to assess an individual as ‘high risk’ is not to say that he or she will definitely recidivate. Despite its shortcomings, risk assessment can, to a certain extent, differentiate offenders who pose a significant risk for re-offending in the future from those who are likely to refrain from committing future offences.”


An Introduction to HTTP/2 Traducciones al EspañolEstamos traduciendo nuestros guías y tutoriales al Español. Es posible que usted esté viendo una traducción generada automáticamente. Estamos trabajando con traductores profesionales para verificar las traducciones de nuestro sitio web. Este proyecto es un trabajo en curso. HTTP/2 (also known as HTTP 2) updates and expands the original Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) implementation. HTTP/2 is designed to improve throughput and latency while maintaining backward compatibility with earlier versions. Because HTTP/2 offers many advantages and no real disadvantages when compared to HTTP/1.1, web servers and clients should use the new version. This guide provides an introduction to HTTP/2, compares it with the original HTTP specification, and explains why you should use it. Understanding the HTTP/2 Protocol
HTTP/2 builds on version 1.1 of the
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) in a way that is transparent to users and developers. HTTP/2 still serves the same role, functioning as the application layer protocol that is the foundation of the internet. It continues to support all significant World Wide Web use cases, such as mobile and desktop browsers, web servers, and proxies. HTTP/2 uses the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) as its transport mechanism, as the first version did.
HTTP/2 is derived from Google’s
SPDY protocol and was fully approved in 2015. It was adopted relatively quickly by most browsers, including Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge, Chrome, and Safari. Over 50% of the top 10 million websites currently support HTTP/2, which has already become the consensus standard.
The main rationale for HTTP/2 is to increase speed and decrease latency. Many of its most significant changes involve how messages are transmitted. HTTP/2 introduces the concept of a stream, a bidirectional flow that can transmit one or more messages. This allows for the multiplexing of individual messages.
The addition of multiplexed streams partially fixes some existing issues, such as the head-of-line blocking problem. This complication occurs when a delayed or missing packet blocks subsequent packets. While the new changes solve the problem at the application layer, the problem can still occur at the TCP transport level. In some cases, multiplexing only moves the problem around. Although HTTP/2 supports both encrypted and unencrypted traffic, most clients enforce data encryption. In practical terms, this means HTTPS is the de facto standard in HTTP/2.
HTTP/1 vs HTTP/2
HTTP version 2 supersedes and replaces HTTP/1.1, but the two versions are more alike than they are different. HTTP/2 is best thought of as an extension rather than a wholesale overhaul. The new version continues to use a request-response protocol over TCP. Clients issue requests and the server responds. Both versions make use of web caches and proxies, use
Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) and hyperlinks, and support HTTPS. They are both stateless and all messages can be understood in isolation. Compatibility Between HTTP/2 and HTTP/1
HTTP/2 is designed for compatibility with earlier versions, and there are no mandatory changes for clients or end-users. All of the main fields, such as the URL, header fields, and status codes, are the same, and the old message format is maintained. For each session, the client and server negotiate a version through a mechanism that allows them to choose between HTTP/2 and HTTP/1.1. Both the client and server must support HTTP/2 to use the protocol. Otherwise, they must both fall back to HTTP/1.1.
Many changes are internal optimizations governing how data packets are framed and transported. These changes are handled at the client and server level and are mostly transparent to users and developers. However, certain workarounds from HTTP/1.1, such as concatenated files, have been removed. Additionally, HTTP/2 no longer supports “chunked transfer encoding”, which allows clients to transmit and receive chunks of data independently. New mechanisms are available in HTTP/2 to achieve the same results.
Changes to Message Transmission in HTTP/2
A major new structural change is the introduction of
binary framing and streams to manage the flow of messages. A single connection containing multiple streams now carries all communication between the client and server. A stream is a bidirectional data flow that transports a series of messages. Each message still represents a request or response, but it is now composed of a series of frames. A single frame contains a portion of the message data, such as the HTTP header. Each frame, in turn, maps back to the parent stream. Binary framing assists with the encapsulation and translation of the messages into frames and streams.
The advantage of a stream-based approach is that it supports multiplexing. Frames from different streams can now be interleaved across a single connection, and different requests and responses can be delivered in parallel. Multiplexing requires fewer TCP connections, but the average connection persists for a longer duration. Many times, only one connection is used for the whole session. This strategy uses TCP more effectively because it is optimized for long-lived connections. Multiplexing reduces the head-of-line blocking problem. This occurs when a missing packet holds up a queue of subsequent packets. Interleaving allows other requests and responses to be delivered while the client waits for the outstanding packet.
New Features in HTTP/2
Along with the changes to the internal transmission mechanism, HTTP/2 introduces a handful of new features and optimizations. Some of these improvements include:
Data compression of headers:HTTP/2 allows for the compression of HTTP header information. It compresses the request and response header metadata using the HPACK compression format. This optimization reduces the amount of header data by over 80%. Server push:This permits the webserver to pre-emptively send resources to a client before the client requests them. The server knows what to send because it is already aware of the resources the page requires. After it transmits the original web page, it can immediately advertise the remaining elements. This technique removes the cycle where the browser has to examine the web page code and make the additional requests. For example, a server can proactively send the client
.cssand
.jsfiles to go along with the
htmlcode. This can be wasteful if the resources are not needed, and in practice, this feature is inconsistently used. Fortunately, HTTP/2 allows the client to decline the resources if it does not want them.
Prioritization of requests:HTTP/2 also permits the client to prioritize any pending requests. It can assign each stream a weight and mark a stream as being dependent on another stream. This triggers the server to allocate the parent stream or high-priority item first. Support for flow control:HTTP/2 provides clients and servers with the ability to implement flow control according to their own specifications. HTTP/2 flow control is credit-based, with credits incrementing and decrementing according to network activity. Each side is permitted to set and change its own window size. For instance, if a client wants to request a preview image, it can set its credit counter to zero, and then work on something else. When it is ready for the full image, it can increase the number of credits again. Advantages of HTTP/2
The use of HTTP/2 is highly recommended as it significantly enhances the browsing experience for end-users and has no real drawbacks. Both the client and the server benefit from the performance improvements, decreased latency, and reduced metadata overhead. HTTP/2 uses fewer connections, significantly diminishing the demand for memory and resources on the server-side. For HTTPS, fewer negotiations and handshakes are required.
The main criticism of HTTP/2 is that it duplicates tasks TCP already handles and violates the protocol layer hierarchy. However, this issue is not likely to concern most users.
HTTP/3 and the Future
While HTTP/2 is widely seen as a big improvement over HTTP/1.1, the new version missed some additional opportunities for improvement. The new HTTP/3 protocol is already being rolled out to address some of these issues. As with HTTP/2, HTTP/3 maintains the same codes and fields and serves the same basic purpose. However, it replaces TCP at the transport layer with the
QUIC protocol, which connects over the User Datagram Protocol (UDP). This enables it to implement “user-space congestion control” to work around head-of-line blocking at the lower layer. HTTP/3 implements transport multiplexing, so only the stream suffering data loss is affected when a frame is lost. Google Chrome already supports HTTP/3, which is expected to become more widely used shortly. Implement HTTP/2 on Apache or NGINX
More in-depth resources on HTTP/2 are available for those who want to learn more about the protocol. You can refer to our How to Configure HTTP/2 on Apache and NGINX to use the protocol for your websites.
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This report investigates open innovation as a method of engaging citizens to identify and solve urban challenges. It is built on insights from the GEniUS! Open innovation project which was part of an URBACT programme which enables the exchange of knowledge and experience between cities through defined projects and networks. GeniUS! Open tested the transfer of practice from the City of York (UK) to Tallinn (Estonia), San Sebastian (Spain) and Siracusa (Italy).
The success of the transfer of open innovation practice related to how willing each city was to be humble, open, curious and brave. The more they embodied these traits the more successful they were in engaging citizens, generating ideas and creating better places.
Posted on: 10 June 2015 Authors: Tricia Hackett,


Abstract
The plasticity and proliferative capacity of stem cells decrease with aging, compromising their tissue regenerative potential and therapeutic applications. This decline is directly linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we present an effective strategy to reverse aging of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) by restoring their mitochondrial functionality using photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy. Following the characterization of young and aged MSCs, our results show that a near-infrared PBM treatment delivering 3 J/cm
2 is the most effective modality for improving mitochondrial functionality and aging markers. Furthermore, our results unveil that young and aged MSCs respond differently to the same modality of PBM: whereas the beneficial effect of a single PBM treatment dissipates within 7 h in aged stem cells, it is lasting in young ones. Nevertheless, by applying three consecutive treatments at 24-h intervals, we were able to obtain a lasting rejuvenating effect on aged MSCs. Our findings are of particular significance for improving autologous stem cell transplantation in older individuals who need such therapies most. ASJC Scopus subject areas General


Risk Factors for Household Vector Abundance Using Indoor CDC Light Traps in a High Malaria Transmission Area of Northern Zambia
Malaria transmission is dependent on the density and distribution of mosquito vectors, but drivers of vector abundance have not been adequately studied across a range of transmission settings. To inform intervention strategies for high-burden areas, further investigation is needed to identify predictors of vector abundance. Active household (HH) surveillance was conducted in Nchelenge district, Luapula Province, northern Zambia, a high-transmission setting with limited impact of malaria control. Between April 2012 and July 2017, mosquitoes were collected indoors during HH visits using CDC light traps. Demographic, environmental, and climatological correlates of vector abundance were identified using log-binomial regression models with robust standard errors. The primary malaria vectors in this setting were Anopheles funestus sensu stricto (s.s.) and Anopheles gambiae s.s. Anopheles funestus predominated in both seasons, with a peak in the dry season. Anopheles gambiae peaked at lower numbers in the rainy season. Environmental, climatic, and demographic factors were correlated with HH vector abundance. Higher vector counts were found in rural areas with low population density and among HHs close to roads and small streams. Vector counts were lower with increasing elevation and slope. Anopheles funestus was negatively associated with rainfall at lags of 2-6 weeks, and An. gambiae was positively associated with rainfall at lags of 3-10 weeks. Both vectors had varying relationships with temperature. These results suggest that malaria vector control in Nchelenge district should occur throughout the year, with an increased focus on dry-season transmission and rural areas.


Does everyone love chocolate? The answer might suprise you.
Despite the widespread love for Chocolate, some regions of the world don't share this same enthusiasm. According to data from Statista's Global Consumer Outlook, The popularity of Chocolate varies significantly across the globe. For example, Chocolate is consumed the most in Europe and North America, but in Asia, people usually prefer other sweets to satisfy their sweet tooth.
For example, candy made from ginger and other fruits is a popular treat in China. And in Japan, mochi (a type of rice cake) is a popular dessert along with other fruit-flavored candies. So, it seems that not everyone loves Chocolate after all! However, Chocolate is still a popular treat in many parts of the world, and its popularity looks likely to continue!
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Chair of council’s Leisure and Community Services, Councillor Keith Haughian commented:
“The Coronavirus Pandemic has played a significant role in triggering increased levels of loneliness and isolation on a local level. While we worked together to stay safe and save lives, many of us found ourselves spending less time with friends and family. “By breaking down social barriers and encouraging people to connect and chat, the Chatty Benches initiative is a small but very effective way of tackling loneliness and isolation. Painted bright yellow, the benches also have a QR Code that takes users to online mental health support resources, offering a range of useful information on looking after our mental and emotional wellbeing. “I would encourage you all to try our new Chatty Benches, take a moment to slow down, strike up a conversation and connect with those around us.”
Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Loneliness Network Chairperson, Sinead Taylor commented:
“Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Loneliness Network and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust are very excited to be involved in the Chatty Benches initiative. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic rise in cases of loneliness. We want to raise awareness of the issue and encourage moments of interaction to support those who have experienced loneliness, even a small hello can break down barriers and bring about conversations with people. A small moment of connection can help lighten the effects of loneliness for somebody who is struggling. “We would encourage you to use the Chatty Benches which can make a difference to you and others in overcoming loneliness.”


This policy brief from Positive Money Europe shows how the principle of market neutrality clashes with the European Central Bank’s (ECB) commitments on climate change, while also representing a financial risk for its balance sheet. It recommends that the ECB instead use the upcoming EU taxonomy on sustainable investments as an emissions-reducing benchmark for their asset purchases, collateral framework and other monetary policy operations.
The paper begins with an overview of the debate on whether and how the ECB should play a role in supporting the EU’s climate and environmental objectives, a debate centred around the concept of ‘market neutrality’. The need to move beyond strict market neutrality is increasingly understood within the ECB, which has formally recognised the problem by including the issue in its 2021 research agenda.
However the authors argue that the concept of market neutrality is contradictory, and clashes with the need to reduce carbon emissions as well as creating a financial risk for the ECB’s balance sheet. “By abiding by the market neutrality principle, the ECB is automatically contributing to climate change,” the authors say, pointing to substantial research showing a heavy carbon bias in ECB lending and purchases.
The paper then examines how the ECB can move beyond market neutrality, pointing out that it is not a legal requirement under the bank’s mandate. The EU taxonomy could be incorporated into the ECB policies, it suggests, helping the bank to identify financial activities that contribute to the EU’s environmental objectives.
It concludes with five specific actions that the European Parliament could take to contribute to the ECB’s debate on market neutrality and encourage the bank to align its operations with EU emissions targets and the Paris agreement.
This page was last updated April 22, 2021
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You Need To Be Flexible on Tactics and Even Mask Up Again If Necessary
COVID-19
Blog Post
Do Incentives Encourage COVID-19 Vaccination? From Free Sodas to $5 Million Lottery Tickets, Rewards Didn’t Change Rates
A third of the U.S. population — about 110 million people — are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. To encourage more people to get vaccinated, some states have tried offering incentives, from free beverages at restaurants to a ticket for a $5 million lottery.
Incentives can promote health behaviors, including quitting smoking or losing weight, but studies investigating whether they work to increase COVID-19 vaccination have had conflicting results. So LDI Senior Fellow Harsha Thirumurthy, PhD led a study to examine their effect more comprehensively. In an analysis of incentive programs in 24 states, Thirumurthy and his coauthors — LDI Fellows Katherine L. Milkman, PhD, Kevin G. Volpp, MD, PhD, and Alison M. Buttenheim, PhD, MBA and colleague Devin G. Pope from the University of Chicago — showed they had little, if any, effect. But intriguing differences among states suggest strategies for creating financial incentives that might promote COVID-19 vaccination.
The study, which used state-level data on daily vaccine doses from April 1, 2021, before the first statewide incentive program began, through July 29, 2021, improved on prior studies on incentives and COVID-19 vaccination that had limitations such as data from a single state or point in time. Thirumurthy and colleagues also accounted for factors that affect response to incentives, including variations in value and type.
Analyses considered the effects of guaranteed rewards vs. lotteries, whether the program was introduced early vs. late in the analysis period, and whether programs were in states that leaned Republican vs. Democratic based on the 2020 presidential election. (In a previous study, Thirumurthy demonstrated that political views affect individual responses to COVID-19.) The researchers compared these data to the control group of 26 states with no statewide incentive program. The researchers also adjusted for national vaccination trends, which declined over the period when incentives were introduced.
They found that the incentives did not significantly change vaccination rates compared to states that had no statewide incentives. The results were the same for the 6 states with guaranteed rewards as for the 18 states with lotteries. Nonetheless, the analysis showed a slight positive effect on vaccination rates in Republican-leaning states (increased daily vaccination of 57/100,000 individuals) and a slight negative effect in Democratic-leaning states (daily decline of 51/100,000 individuals). The authors noted that the Republican-leaning states started with much lower vaccination rates than the Democratic-leaning states.
The authors concluded that the incentives did not result in meaningful changes in vaccination rates, but might have had small effects on vaccine uptake. They noted that to be persuasive, future incentives to promote vaccination might need to be more substantial than the small rewards or low-probability lotteries that many states offered. Furthermore, they noted that underlying motivation likely plays a role in the success of incentive programs; for instance, individuals who want to lose weight or stop smoking may respond to incentive programs focused on these behaviors but may have less desire to get vaccinated. Finally, the authors noted that low awareness of incentive programs, as well as mistrust and misinformation, could impact their success. In short, to effectively increase in vaccination rates, incentives may need to be more substantial or be mandates — using sticks rather than free carrots.
The study, Association Between Statewide Financial Incentive Programs and COVID-19 Vaccination Rates, was published in PLoS ONE on March 30, 2022. Authors include Harsha Thirumurthy, Katherine L. Milkman, Kevin G. Volpp, Alison M. Buttenheim, and Devin G. Pope.
More on COVID-19
Former HHS Secretary Reflects on His Most Important Achievement in a Penn LDI Fireside Chat
Survey Suggests People Prefer Placed-Based vs. Race-Based Distribution
Three Things That Can Be Done
Concerns About Vaccination Vary, and So Do Avenues for Overcoming Them
Study Finds Pre-Existing Burnout and Dissatisfaction Poses a Persistent Risk to Public Health


Significance
Generally, DNA quantification and RNA quantification, normally referred to as nucleic acid quantification, is commonly performed to determine the average concentration of DNA or RNA in a sample prior to proceeding with downstream experiments. In practice, detection and quantification of nucleic acids play essential roles in various applications, including: clinical diagnostics, food safety, forensic analysis, and environmental monitoring. For example, it is used to determine COVID-19 load in screening tests during the current pandemics. In addition, the discovery of host nucleic acid biomarkers for different diseases has opened up numerous new and future applications. At present, the nucleic acid analysis technologies available, such as: PCR, microarray and sequencing, can provide sensitive and selective quantification. However, they all demand a high-yield pre-treatment step to extract and purify the nucleic acid targets and insert them into a standardized buffer, for sensitive and accurate quantification, independent of the actual detection platform. As of now, these extraction methods are based on liquid extraction into immiscible liquids and solid extraction by high-affinity binding columns. Overall, the multiple and noncontinuous operation steps of the current microfluidic-based extraction modules also render their integration with downstream PCR or other detection modules extremely difficult and hence the entire assay must be done in a centralized laboratory.
Therefore, one can hypothesize that a high-throughput and high-yield extraction chip module that can be integrated with downstream steps in an integrated continuous-flow platform would significantly elevate the detection sensitivity, quantification accuracy and usability of nucleic acid analysis technologies, particularly for Point-of-Care screening tests that do not need to be sent to a centralized lab. In this line of thoughts, a team of researchers from the University of Notre Dame: Mr. Chenguang Zhang, Professor Satyajyoti Senapati and Professor Hsueh-Chia Chang, in collaboration with Dr. Gongchen Sun at the Georgia Institute of Technology developed a novel on-chip microfluidic extraction technology that could isolate nucleic acids from an inhibitor-rich plasma sample and insert them into a standardized PCR buffer at high yield and throughput. Their work is currently published in the research journal,
Lab on a Chip.
The research team focused on developing a field-flow fractionation design which could extract charged nucleic acids from a continuous flow by electrophoresis. To achieve this, the researchers adopted a design that used a membrane ionic transistor to sustain low-ionic strength in a localized region at a junction, such that the resulting high field could selectively isolate high-charge density nucleic acids from the main flow channel and insert them into a standardized buffer in a side channel that bifurcated from the junction.
The authors reported that the high local electric field and the bifurcated field-flow design facilitated concentration reduction of both divalent cation and molecular PCR inhibitors by more than two orders of magnitude, even with high-throughput continuous loading. Moreover, their exceptional design comprising of a large on-chip ionic-strength gradient allowed miniaturization into a high-throughput field-flow fractionation chip that could be integrated with upstream lysing and downstream PCR/sensor modules for various nucleic acid detection/quantification applications.
In summary, the study presented the design and validation of a bifurcated continuous field-flow fractionation (BCFFF) chip for high-yield and high-throughput extraction of nucleic acids from physiological samples. Remarkably, the team demonstrated that the developed BCFFF platform was versatile and could be applied for isolation of both long dsDNAs and short miRNAs, without changing the device configuration or the operation. Even better, their technique recorded a net yield four times larger than a commercial extraction kit for miR-39 in human plasma. In a statement to
Medicine Innovates, Professor Hsueh-Chia Chang further emphasized that with their integrated chip, an extraction yield from plasma higher than 80% for different nucleic acids with different lengths, ranging from long dsDNA fragments to short miRNAs could be obtained.
Reference
Chenguang Zhang, Gongchen Sun, Satyajyoti Senapati, Hsueh-Chia Chang.
A bifurcated continuous field-flow fractionation (BCFFF) chip for high-yield and high-throughput nucleic acid extraction and purification. Lab on a Chip, 2019, volume 19, page 3853.


Search Results
Source:
Human Ecology
Resulting in
1citation.
1.
Lang, Susan
A Grandparent at Home Buffers Drawbacks of Single-Parenthood
Human Ecology 33,2 (1 August 2005): 20-10.
Also: http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/ehost/detail?vid=2&hid=108&sid=aa9dda03-7cf8-4e69-839a-2a350b337ae2%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=eih&AN=18364012
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: College of Human Ecology, Cornell University
Keyword(s): Academic Development; Grandparents; Parents, Single; Test Scores/Test theory/IRT
Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.
The article cites a study conducted by researcher Rachel Dunifon which discusses the role of grandparents in single-parent families. Many studies have shown that children living in a single-parent family tend to do worse academically and receive less intellectual stimulation than children. Having a grandparent in the home, however, appears to buffer some of these negative effects, according to a new study in the College of Human Ecology. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, Dunifon found that living with a single mother is linked to significant declines in academic achievement. In contrast, the test scores of children who live in single-mother families that also contain a grandparent do not significantly differ from children in married-couple families. See: Dunifon, Rachel:
Influence of Grandparents in Single-Mother Families
Bibliography CitationLang, Susan. "A Grandparent at Home Buffers Drawbacks of Single-Parenthood." Human Ecology 33,2 (1 August 2005): 20-10.


That’s why the People’s Parity Project is thrilled to announce the launch of its inaugural Leadership Fellows cohort.
Dedicated organizers on individual law school campuses who are properly identified, trained, and supported can effectively build a legal culture that is pro-people, not pro-corporate. PPP will be launching a pilot program during the 2022–23 academic year in which 5–10 rising 2Ls on law school campuses across the country are selected to join the first cohort of PPP Leadership Fellows. This is an anticipated two-year commitment, with the fellowship completing in May 2024.
These Fellows will be the beneficiaries of significant investment from PPP: they will participate in a retreat in Atlanta, GA in early September and attend a customized quarterly speaker series, receive a dedicated mentor and significant career support, build organizing and advocacy skills and connections to like-minded individuals both on and beyond their individual campuses, and be eligible for externship credit with PPP.
A significant amount will also be asked of Fellows: each will be expected to dedicate 10–15 hours per week during the academic year (except during finals periods) to leading organizing efforts on their campus to end the corporate capture of the legal profession. Fellows will work with the PPP staff team to choose 1–3 campaigns to prioritize during the year; sample campaigns include enacting right to counsel policies at the state or local level, building a state court advocacy program, or enacting innovative law school funding programs at the individual school level.
To join our inaugural cohort of Leadership Fellows, please submit this application by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, August 5th. All applicants will also need to send a resume and two letters of recommendation (which can be sent directly by your recommenders) to Steve Kennedy, PPP’s Organizing & Network Director, at steve@peoplesparity.org.


Mapping mechanical properties of living cells at nanoscale using intrinsic nanopipette–sample force interactions† Abstract
Mechanical properties of living cells determined by cytoskeletal elements play a crucial role in a wide range of biological functions. However, low-stress mapping of mechanical properties with nanoscale resolution but with a minimal effect on the fragile structure of cells remains difficult. Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscopy (SICM) for quantitative nanomechanical mapping (QNM) is based on intrinsic force interactions between nanopipettes and samples and has been previously suggested as a promising alternative to conventional techniques. In this work, we have provided an alternative estimation of intrinsic force and stress and demonstrated the possibility to perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of cell nanomechanical properties of a variety of living cells. Force estimation on decane droplets with well-known elastic properties, similar to living cells, revealed that the forces applied using a nanopipette are much smaller than in the case using atomic force microscopy. We have shown that we can perform nanoscale topography and QNM using a scanning procedure with no detectable effect on live cells, allowing long-term QNM as well as detection of nanomechanical properties under drug-induced alterations of actin filaments and microtubulin.


As the war in Ukraine continues, there is increased scrutiny of the Russian government’s global activities. In Africa, the newest development uses Russian mercenaries, most prominently the Wagner group, to achieve Russian interests. Even if the mercenaries are not particularly effective at defeating rebel groups, their appeal to African leaders and ability to implant themselves into the host country’s political system makes them difficult for the international community to counter.
Using mercenaries offers the Russian state several benefits. Firstly, it allows Moscow’s most controversial activity in Africa to remain deniable, even if Wagner’s connections to the Kremlin are common knowledge and Wagner’s deployments are preceded by a deal with the Russian government. It also allows Russia more access to gold, diamonds, and other precious resources, which are suitable for the economy and a small way to mitigate the impact of Ukraine-related sanctions. Furthermore, because Wagner’s ability to operate depends on its link to the Kremlin and the Russian state’s willingness to overlook the constitutional ban on mercenaries, there is almost no risk that Wagner will operate against Moscow’s interests. Lastly, When Wagner mercenaries die, which is not infrequent, Russia owes the public no explanation.
Wagner initially fought for Russian interests in Eastern Ukraine and Syria but quickly secured contracts in Africa supporting then-President Omar Al-Bashir in Sudan and Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar. However, in the Central African Republic and now Mali, they developed their playbook of opportunistically exploiting ill-will towards France and the E.U. to secure lasting contracts and political influence.
The Wagner Playbook in Africa: The Central African Republic and Beyond
Wagner’s appeal to some African leaders is simple. They offer to train the military, act like a praetorian guard, and conduct counterinsurgency operations at a relatively low cost. The deal is incredibly enticing if a state or its people are unsatisfied with its current security assistance. Former French colonies, particularly those with an ongoing conflict and French military presence, are especially susceptible. The Central African Republic, for instance, relied on French, EU, and U.N. missions as their primary security partners from 2014 until 2018. Then, as it became clear that peacekeepers and French forces were unable or unwilling to stem the violence or defeat CAR’s many rebel groups, President Touadera reached out to Russia. Alongside a shipment of weapons, some 170 mercenaries arrived under several names, including Sewa Security Services and COSI.


When NCG colleges closed their doors and moved swiftly to remote teaching and learning in March in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was little time to prepare for the impact on our students.
Isolation, health concerns and uncertainty about the future has likely had a negative impact on the mental health of most people in the country, but particularly young people. And those students who have experienced care, or are already seeking academic and wellbeing support are even more likely to have felt the negative effects.


An aneurysm is a bulging section in the wall of a blood vessel that has become stretched out and thin. As the wall of the blood vessel bulges out, it becomes weaker and may burst or rupture, causing bleeding.
If an aneurysm in the brain bursts, it may cause a stroke. An aneurysm in a vessel that carries a lot of blood, such as the aorta, is often fatal if it bursts.
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Jeffrey J. Gilbertson MD - Vascular Surgery
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.


One of the most dramatic effects of COVID-19 on the U.S. economy is the increase in popularity of “gig” or freelance work. Gig workers include those performing essential jobs, such as delivering groceries to socially-distancing consumers. Others used their specialized skills to develop consulting and other independent businesses. According to the independent talent provider MBO Partners, gig workers contributed $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2020.
It should come as no surprise then, that gig workers are expected to pay their share of income tax. But calculating income tax as an independent contractor is not always simple.
No free ride
If you are a gig worker, you are typically considered self-employed. Because an employer is not withholding money from your paycheck to cover tax obligations, you are responsible for making your own federal income tax payments. Depending on where you live, you also may have to pay state income tax.
The U.S. tax system is considered “pay as you go.” Self-employed individuals typically pay both federal income tax and self-employment taxes four times during the year: April 15, June 15, September 15 of the current year, and January 15 of the following year.
If you do not pay enough over these four installments to cover the required amount for the year, you may be subject to penalties. For federal income taxes, you can avoid penalties if your estimated tax payments are at least equal to either 90% of the tax shown on the current year’s return or 110% of the tax shown on the return for the previous year. If your income is under $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately), then you can avoid penalties if your estimated tax is at least 100% of last year’s tax,
1099 economy
You may have been called a “1099 worker” or “independent contractor.” This is because as a self-employed person you will not get a W-2 from an employer. However, you may receive a Form 1099-MISC from any client or customer that paid you at least $600 throughout the year. The client sends the same form to the IRS, so it pays to monitor the 1099s that you receive and verify that the amounts match your records.
Related Read: Independent Contractor vs. Employee: Understanding Worker Designation
Third-party payment systems may report gross amounts paid to you on Form 1099-K. Even if you did not earn enough from a client to receive a 1099, you must still report the income that you received from that client. Most gig workers are taxed on income when it is received, not when you send a request for payment (unless you elected the accrual method of accounting).
Business-related expenses
Because gig workers are self-employed, their taxes are based on the profits left after they deduct business-related expenses from their revenue. Your expenses may include payment processing fees, investments in office equipment and specific costs required to provide your service, such as advertising.
Also, if you use a portion of your home for work, you may be able to deduct some home-related expenses. Note that this is subject to significant restrictions.
Do not go at it alone
To make accurate deductions, it is essential that gig workers keep excellent records of revenue and expenses. As an employee you may have calculated your own income and prepared your own income tax returns. When joining the gig economy, you should consider working with a professional to help ensure that you pay no more tax than is required.
For more information, contact Thomas Vance at 312.670.7444. Visit orba.com to learn more about our Wealth Management Services.


It appears that the COVID-related Public Health Emergency (PHE) will be extended again. This time to October 2022. PHLP previously reported that the PHE would expire on July 15th. However, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has promised to provide a 60-day advance notice before ending the PHE. Because the administration had not announced an end to the PHE by May 16, 2022, we can expect a new extension will be announced before July 15 (likely much sooner).
The PHE was first declared on January 27th, 2020, at the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic. During the PHE, states, including Pennsylvania, have received additional federal funding in exchange for providing continuous Medicaid (also known as Medical Assistance) coverage for most individuals who were enrolled in Medicaid on or after March 18th, 2020, even if they did not renew their coverage or would normally no longer be eligible.
When the PHE ends, Pennsylvania will return to being able to terminate Medicaid coverage for people who do not meet eligibility criteria or do not complete their renewal. At that time, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has stated it will review enrollees who were kept on Medicaid due to the PHE. Coverage will continue until these individuals are reviewed, which DHS said will be within six months of the end of the PHE. As was the case prior to the PHE, renewals will be due within 30 days of receiving a renewal packet. Once reviewed, individuals may be terminated from Medicaid. If so, they will be able to appeal this decision by following the directions on the notice. If they appeal timely, they will not lose their coverage during this process.
If you are enrolled in Medicaid, it is important to update your contact information with the County Assistance Office so that you can receive their correspondence, including your renewal packet. You can do so on the COMPASS website, on the myCOMPASS PA mobile app, or by calling the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 (in Philadelphia, call 215-560-7226). You will also have the option to sign up for text alerts.
PHLP will continue to keep consumers informed of any updates around the PHE as we learn them.


Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) offers functional insight into complex biology, allowing for the interrogation of cellular populations and gene expression programs at single-cell resolution. Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed scPipeline, a single-cell data analysis toolbox that builds on existing methods and offers modular workflows for multi-level cellular annotation and user-friendly analysis reports. Advances to scRNA-seq annotation include: (i) co-dependency index (CDI)-based differential expression, (ii) cluster resolution optimization using a marker-specificity criterion, (iii) marker-based cell-type annotation with Miko scoring, and (iv) gene program discovery using scale-free shared nearest neighbor network (SSN) analysis. Both unsupervised and supervised procedures were validated using a diverse collection of scRNA-seq datasets and illustrative examples of cellular transcriptomic annotation of developmental and immunological scRNA-seq atlases are provided herein. Overall, scPipeline offers a flexible computational framework for in-depth scRNA-seq analysis.
Schematic of scPipeline analysis modules a scPipeline is a modular collection of Rmarkdown scripts that generate reports for scRNA-seq analyses. The modular framework permits flexible usage and facilitates i) QC & preprocessing, ii) integration, iii) cluster optimization, iv) cell annotation, v) gene expression and association analyses, and vi) gene program discovery. Each standalone HTML report provides a comprehensive analysis summary that can be seamlessly shared without any dependencies. Alternatively, online repositories (e.g., GitHub) can be used to host HTML reports for public dissemination. b Representative snapshots of scPipeline reports generated using the QC and preprocessing (left), cell annotation (middle), and gene expression and association (right) modules. Multi-level cellular and functional annotation of single-cell transcriptomes using scPipeline. Comm Biol5: 1142. [article]


Abstract
Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely related with obesity. However, obese subjects, generally represented by high BMI, do not always develop NAFLD. A number of possible causes of NAFLD have been studied, but the exact mechanism has not yet been elucidated. Methods: A total of 304 consecutive subjects who underwent general health examinations including abdominal ultrasonography, transient elastography and abdominal fat computed tomography were prospectively enrolled. Significant steatosis was diagnosed by ultrasonography and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) assessed by transient elastography. Results: Visceral fat area (VFA) was significantly related to hepatic steatosis assessed by CAP, whereas body mass index (BMI) was related to CAP only in univariate analysis. In multiple logistic regression analysis, VFA (odds ratio [OR], 1.010; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001–1.019; P = 0.028) and triglycerides (TG) (OR, 1.006; 95% CI, 1.001–1.011; P = 0.022) were independent risk factors for significant hepatic steatosis. The risk of significant hepatic steatosis was higher in patients with higher VFA: the OR was 4.838 (P<0.001; 95% CI, 2.912–8.039) for 100<VFA≤200 cm
2 and 7.474 (P<0.001; 95% CI, 2.462–22.693) for VFA >200 cm 2, compared to patients with a VFA ≤100 cm 2. Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that VFA and TG is significantly related to hepatic steatosis assessed by CAP not BMI. This finding suggests that surveillance for subjects with NAFLD should incorporate an indicator of visceral obesity, and not simply rely on BMI. Bibliographical notePublisher Copyright:
© 2017 Lee et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all) Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all) General


The 2019 Union Budget proposed by Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 5, aimed to tighten the noose around NRI tax evaders.
Under the new budget, the Indian government has expanded the coverage of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, to retrospectively include Non-resident Indians (NRIs) under the Act. The change in the definition of the assessee is expected to give tax authorities the power to take action against those who were residents when they acquired the undisclosed asset and then subsequently turned into non-residents. The move is likely to help the Indian government recover undisclosed assets stashed away overseas in cases where high-profile tax evaders have left the country. The black money law, apart from providing more rigorous provisions for penalty and prosecution, also includes the offense of willful attempt to evade tax in relation to undisclosed foreign income/assets as a scheduled offense under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). By Sowmya Sangam


In February 2020 Ethical Consumer viewed the Pets At Home website and found that the company sold some leather items, however, it was not considered to form a substantial part of its business. No leather policy could be found. The company lost half a mark under Ethical Consumer’s Animal Rights category.
It also lost half a mark under the Pollution and Toxics category for the following reason. Leather, as the hide of a dead animal, naturally decomposes. To prevent this decomposition the leather industry uses a cocktail of harmful chemicals to preserve leather, including trivalent chromium sulphate, sodium sulphide, sodium sulfhydrate, arsenic and cyanide. Tannery effluent also contains large amounts of other pollutants, such as protein, hair, salt, lime sludge and acids. These can all pollute the land, air and water supply, making it a highly polluting industry.
Reference:
https://investors.petsathome.com/responsibility/ (12 February 2020)


RetroSense Therapeutics hit a significant milestone when the U.S. Food & Drug Administration granted the Ann Arbor-based startup an orphan designation for its lead technology.
Orphan status for a biopharmaceutical company is actually much better than it sounds. It gives the company bureaucratic cover to continue keep pushing forward its commercialization efforts by helping protect its rights to its research.
"It's a form of intellectual property identification," says Sean Ainsworth, CEO of RetroSense Therapeutics. "That's a key part of it."
The 4-year-old startup is developing a novel gene therapy to restore vision in retinal degenerative diseases, using technology licensed from Wayne State University. RetroSense Therapeutics' platform extracts a new gene from blue-green algae that helps make cells more photo sensitive. The company plans to apply this gene to human cells to regenerate photo receptors in the retina.
The FDA Orphan designation is intended to support the development of medicines and technologies that diagnose, treat or prevent rare diseases and conditions that impact 200,000 people or fewer in the U.S. It serves as an incentive for their development by designating a seven-year period of market exclusivity following FDA approval, along with certain tax credits for clinical testing expenses.
"It gives us the chance to demonstrate efficacy," Ainsworth says. "We expect to see that in our stage one clinical study."
RetroSense Therapeutics employs four people. It is in the process of wrapping up some of its pre-clinical testing and plans to launch clinical tests in 2015.
Source: Sean Ainsworth, CEO of RetroSense Therapeutics Writer: Jon Zemke


Restraint and alliance The outcome of this identification was restraint in times of crisis. Sometimes this restraint meant not only non-aggression but also active cooperation and alliance. Both core ideas are explored by looking at foreign policy restraint (or escalation). While not a question explicitly asked by this book, its analysis also gave first hints to the answer of when non-war turns into solidarity. The higher the perceived similarity between monarchies, the greater the trust, solidarity, and willingness to reach mutually acceptable nonviolent dispute resolutions. In harmonious times, there might not be any reason for provocation and escalation, regardless of regime type.
However, during
crises, these mechanisms become more meaningfill, and here the discriminatory influence of ingroup identification is seen most clearly.
Whereas severe crises escalated into wars or militarized aggression against or between republics, monarchs attempted to de-escalate tensions inside the monarchic community. There was a consistent preference for cooperation over confrontation, unlike in republican or mixed dyads, a pattern seen across all case studies. Even in the tense times of the Qatar Crisis, monarchies - Oman, Kuwait, and Morocco - attempted to provide a mediating platform to solve the conflict between monarchies.
The most important finding in that regard was
that confrontation rarely reached the threshold where use of force was even considered, much less deployed. In the rare cases that it was (the seven intra-monarchic MIDs in the region), the crises were quickly diffused before they could lead to war. While conflicts outside the ingroup might become existential and slide into war, a fam-ily-like community understands that conflicts can be mediated peacefully. After all, differences of opinion “even happen between brothers”, as Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of the UAE, said about his country’s relations with the Saudis in 1972 (cited in: Alkim 1989, 118). Being based on norms and identity, ingroup favoritism proved more robust. After all, not wanting to risk war is not as strong a deterrent as not wanting war at all.
The restraint went deeper than merely eschewing war initiation, as captured by the analysis of
non-military restraint. Foreign policy decision makers in monarchies generally refrained from destabilizing the opponent’s regime, even though campaigns to destabilize the position of individual monarchs, like in the case of the former Qatari Emir, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, occasionally occurred. Even on the rhetorical level, threats of violence and rhetorical escalation by othering, demonization, or securitizing the conflict issue remained the exception, most remarkably during the confrontation between Bahrain and Qatar when Bahram rebuked its neighbor for breaking "family norms of behavior” without othering it or stripping it of the shared identity. Communication lines were practically always upheld - though sometimes, boycotts of meetings were employed to signal disagreement. Although the feedback loop could not be adequately captured by the theoretical framework, foreign policy restraint during crises in turn clearly led to stronger bonds in post-conflict periods - just as strong bonds in "normal” periods fostered restraint in crisis, creating a feedback loop.
Apart from eschewing military conflict, in some periods, a more demanding norm of intra-monarchic interaction was activated, leading to
active mutual support (or solidarity) and long-term alliance and solidarity, which sometimes even transformed into attempts to institutionalize interstate bonds. The most successful of these attempts resulted in the creation of the GCC, although the union between the Hashemite sister kingdoms of Jordan and Iraq was another, albeit short-lived, instance. As a form of positive ingroup favoritism (in contrast to “negative” nonwar), alliance and solidarity are more-demanding and more-costly norms than mere restraint is and therefore not always observable.
Mutual support or intra-monarchic solidarity was activated mostly under two conditions: in the presence of a
common threat (like the pan-Arabist revolutionary republics during the 1950s and 1960s) and among especially close and especially similar monarchies, such as the GCC states. When particularly close and similar monarchies formalized existing alliance bonds, they could even lead to their institutionalization in formal intergovernmental organizations. It remains to be seen after the Qatar Crisis if the absence of a common threat might also drive the dissolution of such institutions, but so far, there is no hint that it does. Although Qatar left the Yemen War coalition and OPEC, there was never any suggestion of it leaving the GCC.
However, there were some contradictory findings whether alliance is triggered only by a common threat or also comes about without it, such as in the case of pre-existing groupings based on entrenched and enduring patterns of similarity and proximity. For instance, alliance and solidarity were more pronounced in the Bahraini-Qatari case even in periods without a strong mutual threat - but were propelled to salience during the period of the Arab Cold War, where the common threat was strong. Monarchic alliances were not as pronounced at the beginning of the formation of an ingroup or between highly dissimilar monarchies as in the Iran-UAE case or throughout the early period of the Saudi-Hashemite relations.
Similar caveats apply to the institutionalization of alliance, as seen most visibly with the GCC and the AFU between the Hashemite kingdoms of Jordan and Iraq. Institutionalization attempts failed in cases when no additional kinship or ethnic bonds existed - like the Gulf Security Pact propagated by the shah. This pattern may have also frozen any plans for extending GCC membership to Jordan and Morocco so far.
The findings thus illustrate how
identity' can forge and cement alliances that go beyond ad hoc coalitions that are based on “material” interest-based politics and deterrence. Alliances shaped by identity are more durable than ad hoc coalitions driven by common interests are. While a common threat might induce both, ad hoc coalitions break down when interests start to diverge again. In contrast, monarchic ingroup identification remains largely intact even after the departure of an immediate threat. Without such a sense of shared identity, Iraq felt free to attack Kuwait, previously joined into an ad hoc coalition with it against Iran. In contrast, the end of the Arab Cold War did not herald the end of intense and special monarchic relations (and joint peacefulness), although the level of mutual support decreased significantly. The alliance within the GCC persisted even when Bahrain and Qatar were at odds over the Hawar Islands conflict. Even Iran and the Gulf monarchies continued to ally despite the shah's seizure of islands claimed by UAE emirates.
The analysis strongly suggests that
monarchic restraint is indeed dyadic and that there is no general monarchic peacefulness, based on the comparison with monarchic behavior toward republics provided by the case studies: subversion campaigns aimed at regime change, assassinations or support of militant groups are measures reserved against hostile republics. These measures were deployed by Saudi Arabia and Jordan against Egypt, Syria, and Iraq in the 1950s and 1960s, and the same policies were adopted by republics against each other or against monarchies, like the Iranian campaign against the GCC states in the 1980s or the Syrian campaign against Iraq in the 1970s. In addition, monarchies did not hesitate to even deploy military measures against republics, most prominently during the Gulf War of 1990/1991. The same systematic cooperation preference that could be found among monarchies had no effect on monarchy-republic interactions wherever political interests diverged. Despite strong disagreements among the dynasties, the spectrum of acceptable and legitimate behavior among monarchies was different from those toward republics like Egypt and Syria. Once states changed their regime, this pattern changed accordingly, as demonstrated by the two case studies of “quasi-experiments”. Two sets of standards were valid for conflict resolution with monarchies on the one hand and conflict resolution involving republics on the other. This supports the constructivist SIT interpretation rather than an institutionalist one.


Nature, and all that it encompasses, has influenced computer science, in particular Artificial Intelligence, from its inception. Many effective tools, mechanisms, processes, algorithms, methods, and systems have been proposed inspired by nature. For example, Neural Networks are roughly inspired by the cognitive brain function, Genetic Algorithms are inspired by evolution and the survival of the fittest, and Artificial Immune Systems are inspired by their biological equivalents. Further examples include swarm or collective approaches, that are inspired by colonies of insects and birds. Current AI methods have the following weaknesses:


The nation's first contactless debit and credit cards were introduced by ICICI Bank in June 2015, allowing customers to make purchases by just waving the card in front of merchant terminals rather than swiping it.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, contactless payments in India increased six times in the past three years, from 2.5% in December 2018 to 16% in December 2021.
The phrase "contactless card" may give you an idea of what it is. But it is essential to comprehend how it functions and what qualities it has. Let's go through these in more depth.
What is a contactless card?
Using RFID technology, a contactless card enables you to wave or hover the card over a card terminal to complete a transaction. Your card information is transmitted by the card in the form of short-range electromagnetic waves, which the point-of-sale system picks up and uses to complete the transaction.
When it comes to making an in-store purchase, using these cards is one of the most common payment options. These cards streamline transactions by enabling contactless payment from customers.
Contactless cards operate in the same way as mobile wallets do. Compared to inputting, swiping, or spending cash, it can be up to 10 times quicker. Additionally, it safeguards your information and keeps your hand off the card reader.
How does it work?
Contactless cards utilize radio-frequency identification technology (RFID). This enables communication between the card and the card reader while the card is in close proximity to the reader during a transaction.
Additionally, most contactless cards have an EMV chip in addition to the standard magnetic stripe, credit or debit card number, expiration date, and security code. As a result, cardholders have several alternatives at the cash register. You may still swipe your card or utilize the chip reader at a store without contactless readers.
Your card information is securely authenticated when you place your contactless card near the reader. The transaction is then transmitted to the card issuer, using the retailer's point-of-sale system. After that, the transaction is examined by the issuer before being approved.
Are there any risks associated with these contactless cards?
Contactless payment is a very convenient and quick method of making payments. However, like with other technology, one may face security risks while using these.
With contactless cards, actual card possession will be the primary security risk rather than card skimming. When utilizing contactless payment, there is often no need for a PIN or signature, so if your card is lost or stolen, someone else might use it without your knowledge.
However, the fraud departments of card issuers have grown quite savvy, so any erroneous purchases will probably be noted and reimbursed to your account. In the event that your credit card is lost or stolen, you should always get in touch with the card's issuer straight once.
The Covid-19 outbreak drew much-needed awareness to the quantity and hygiene of the shared surfaces that we all touch. Credit cards using contactless technology help reduce touch points overall. Customers are permitted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to utilize contactless payments for up to 5,000 rupees using both debit and credit cards.


This article explores several equity-based compensation options. A sidebar explains how companies that aren’t prepared to share equity with employees can still enjoy the benefits of equity-based compensation. continue reading »
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As per reports, approximately 1 in 5 people in the US struggles with learning or thinking differences. Care, evaluations, and diagnosis for those with differences are time-consuming, expensive, inconvenient, and confusing. These barriers prevent those with learning and thinking differences from receiving the care they need. At a time when we are done and tired of edtech companies in India rather adding to the crisis, New York, United States-based startup Parallel Learning simplifies and streamlines learning difference care for families, providers, educators, and students by aggregating providers and resources in a single, easy-to-access platform. Edtech startup Parallel Learning connects students with qualified clinicians and professionals while significantly reducing waiting times...
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Air Handler Cleaning in Alexandria, VA
Air handlers represent a pivotal part of your HVAC system. Air handlers boost the quality of the air your HVAC system delivers. Air handler cleaning in Alexandria, VA allows you to keep this piece of machinery functioning efficiently.
We Perform Air Handler Unit Restoration in Alexandria, VA
Proper maintenance keeps your air handler unit up and running. However, breakdowns sometimes occur if individuals don’t perform regular cleaning on the unit. We can work to get your unit running again with air handler unit restoration in Alexandria, VA.
We take care of an inspection before taking any other steps to resolve your issues with an air handler unit. Depending upon the technician’s findings, you may decide to:
Restore your air handler unit Replace the unit
Sometimes it is more efficient to replace a unit that deteriorated due to a lack of maintenance and cleaning. Allow us to assess your unique situation today. Replacing, restoring, or cleaning your unit allows you to boost the indoor air quality (IAQ) of your property.
Schedule Air Handler Maintenance in Alexandria, VA
Regular air handler maintenance allows you to extend the life of your unit, improve the IAQ of your home or business, and keep your energy costs low. Air handler maintenance works to prevent:
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Our team at Air Cleaning Technologies takes care of residential and commercial air handler cleaning in Alexandria, VA.
Located in Sterling, VA, Air Cleaning Technologies serves surrounding areas, including Alexandria. Our team respects the history and beauty of Alexandria, with modern stores, museums, and restaurants filling the city. It is only a short drive from Washington, D.C., making it convenient to reach the nation’s capital.
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The practice of astrology primarily addresses the character and cycles of individuals. The psychological development of 20th century astrology contributed to trends of individualism that have created both a sense of freedom and alienation. We are empowered with a sense of identity that is freed f...
Many astrologers believe that there are no bad signs, malefic planets, or dreadful aspects. If this is so, and the birth chart is a true reflection of the person, then how do we account for the existence of aberrant and pathological behavior? Aren’t there bad, malicious, and dreadful people in th...
Astrology and magic have an intertwined history. It has long been understood that aligning your desires with the astrological symbols of the moment can bring you closer to them. Seeking help from the Universe, through astrology, is part of our tradition as well. This class will introduce you to s...


Ungovernable America
The U.S. government shutdown reflects irreconcilable differences among different group of the population. Even if some stopgap measures are soon adopted to reopen the government, the cause of the shutdown will not be addressed.
There is a significant risk that the U.S. Congress may not raise the debt limit and the U.S. government will default on its debt. If the United States does default, the global economy is likely to fall back into recession due to the resulting financial turmoil. The most likely scenario is for a temporary solution that would allow the government to continue to service its debt for another year. However, unless some sort of solution is reached to reconcile the differences between the left and the right, sooner or later the U.S. government will default.
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May 30, 2022
Argentina sees 2.43% drop in hog slaughter at end of Q1 2022
Argentina's hog slaughter decreased by 2.43% at the end of the first quarter of 2022, compared to the same period of 2021, going from 1,787,512 to 1,744,087 head.
Similarly, pork production decreased by 2.64% in the same period, reaching 161,258 tonnes. On the other hand, international trade figures indicate a 51.5% increase in the volume of imports for the period, from 9,386 tonnes to 14,219 tonnes, while exports fell by 81.8%, from 10,669 tonnes in the first quarter of 2021 to just 1,940 tonnes in the same period of 2022.
Per capita consumption for the month of March reached 17.7kg per inhabitant.
General live hog prices showed relative stability throughout the quarter, with slight variations that kept the price around $180/kg (US$1.51). The average price for the period stood at $181.1/kg (US$1.51), which represents a 52% increase compared to the same period of 2021.
According to the latest estimates report for livestock and poultry published by the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service on April 6, pork production is expected to grow by 0.7% in 2022, reaching 700,000 tonnes.
As for international trade, the UDSA projects a 20% increase in the volume of imports, which would reach 60,000 tonnes. A 40% drop in total exports is expected, which would be 12,000 tonnes.
- Economic Analysis Department of 333 Latin America


Highlighted Research Paper: Key Brain Network Nodes Show Differential Cognitive Relevance and Developmental Trajectories during Childhood and Adolescence, by, Knut K. Kolskår, Dag Alnæs, Tobias Kaufmann, Geneviève Richard, Anne-Marthe Sanders, Kristine M. Ulrichsen, Torgeir Moberget, Ole A. Andreassen, Jan E. Nordvik, and Lars T. Westlye
The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical period for human brain development. The maturing adolescent brain must adapt to acquire abilities reminiscent of adulthood, including higher cognitive demands, increased emotional regulation, and social adaptation. A protracted period of neuroplasticity over several years enables new synaptic connections to be created and stabilized/removed between brain regions. During this time, gray matter undergoes extensive synaptic pruning, while white matter volume increases, supporting the emergence and specialization of functional networks. Therefore, it is not surprising that several psychiatric illnesses are thought to result from aberrant connections formed during adolescence. To understand how aberrant connectivity occurs, one must first have a thorough understanding of how normotypic connectivity patterns are established.
Advances in brain imaging technology have motivated a vast interest in functional connectivity analyses. Just as commercial airlines use central airports as hubs to concentrate operations and increase efficiency, the brain also employs hubs as locations to integrate widespread neural activity (Miši and Sporns, 2016). These hubs are neural “hot spots,” highly connected nodes that mediate communication within and between large-scale neural networks. The importance of a particular node can be defined by its centrality, a measure of the number and strength of connections an individual node has, relative to the rest of the network.
In their
eNeuro publication, Kolskår and et al., 2018, analyzed fMRI data from 754 children and adolescents, aged 8–22 years. These data were collected as part of the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort, a large-scale study that examined how brain maturation impacts cognitive development and vulnerability to psychiatric illnesses (Satterthwaite et al., 2013). The subjects were recorded during two separate psychological conditions: resting state and a working memory task. Kolskår and colleagues applied a graph-based method, termed eigenvector centrality (EC), which estimates the centrality of every point (voxel) in the brain, reflecting its integration within the entire connectome. After computing brain-wide EC maps for each subject for both psychological conditions, they used a data-driven method (independent component analysis; ICA), to decompose the individual EC maps into several large-scale brain spatial maps reflecting measures of centrality across subjects and psychological conditions. Compared to important prior studies that examined the functional connectivity of fewer nodes (Hwang et al., 2013; Sato et al., 2015), this novel approach allowed Kolskår and colleagues to analyze several spatially independent, large-scale brain networks, including those with activation patterns that have previously been described for sensory, motor, and cognitive functions (Figure 1).
From this complex series of analyses, Kolskår and colleagues report three main findings.
1. Working memory task performance is associated with increased centrality of key nodes within the frontoparietal, cerebellar, and cingulo-opercular networks, and decreased centrality of sensorimotor and thalamic nodes. This shift in hub properties in response to task performance is suggested to support increased efficacy of interactions between relevant nodes while suppressing the activation of task-irrelevant nodes.
2. Age-related centrality differences in cingulo-opercular, visual, and sensorimotor network nodes were observed during both the resting state and task performance. This observation suggests that common neurodevelopmental processes manifest across both of the psychological conditions tested.
3. The centrality of key cingulo-opercular network nodes increased during task performance. Taken together with the age-related differences, this finding highlights the importance of cingulo-opercular hubs in neurocognitive development.
This study provides an increased understanding of normotypic patterns of functional connectivity during adolescent brain development and their implications for cognitive functioning. In particular, the study emphasizes the significance of cingulo-opercular hubs in brain maturation with respect to cognitive development. As recent studies in adults have implicated deviant hub functioning as one of the underlying mechanisms in several psychiatric illnesses (Crossley et al., 2014), it is crucial to identify further the neural correlates during adolescence that may confer an increased risk for such illnesses (Kaufmann et al., 2017). This study by Kolskår and colleagues reflects an important step to support the long-term goal of identifying aberrant connectivity patterns that may underlie functional defects observed in adulthood.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided that the original work is properly attributed.


To get participants on the same page of understanding of assignment given to consultants, the terms of reference of the each were presented. From this exposé, it was clear that consultants were required to prepare a project document that included a log frame and implementation arrangements as deliverable at the end of the consultancy.
Then, two presentations were respectively made by the expert in hydrology and the project development expert on their duties. The first expert presented the methodology of his work focused on consulting secondary data and working with LCBC experts to collect and analyse existing information to evaluate and propose an optimal hydrometeorogical network, identify key stakeholders and community radios, and key economic and livelihood activities and risks. The second clearly explained that the writing part which will entail mobilising and analysing existing information, capitalising report of hydrology expert, and preparing a project proposal with a logical framework.
Discussions that followed in plenary pointed out the need to avoid duplication with the World Bank project on supported flood management currently ongoing in the Logone sub-basin, on the Cameroon side of the Lake Chad Basin, as well as the need to identify a target donor /funder. They also permitted participants to understand that floods in Ndjamena were influenced more by the discharge from the Chari river system which needed to be considered in the project.
A roadmap for the next steps of the process was discussed and approved. Thus, the final inception report is expected by the end of July, whereas the full project document with comments from LCBC and another workshop for approval by September 2016.
As a reminder, since 2014 within the context of the implementation of the Water, Climate and Development Program (WACDEP), GWP Central Africa in collaboration with LCBC executive secretariat, developed a concept note for elaboration of a no/low regret project with proposed title ““
Strengthening Hydro meteorological Information and Early Warning Systems (SHMI-EWS) in the Lake Chad Basin”.


Jon Leibowitz, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, and Cameron Kerry, general counsel of the Department of Commerce, spoke today about the need for industry codes of conduct to address emerging privacy issues. They were the featured speakers at an event held by the Brookings Institution on strategies to protect consumer privacy while ensuring continued innovation on the Internet.
As we previously discussed, the Commerce Department has called for baseline consumer privacy protections that would serve as the basis for codes of conduct that specify how the baseline principles apply in particular contexts. At today’s event, Kerry provided more detail about the Department’s proposal.
According to Kerry, it is clear that more than self-regulation is needed, and that the government should provide a nudge by convening a multistakeholder process to discuss the development of industry codes of conduct. The Commerce Department plans to initiate the process by identifying specific areas where practices are unclear, asking for written submissions or draft codes, setting dates and places for meetings, allowing remote participation to ensure that the process is visible and accessible to all, and enabling people to submit comments. The FTC would be charged with deciding whether a given code sufficiently implements the baseline principles. Kerry stressed that the Department does not intend to (1) be the gatekeeper in deciding who can participate, (2) hold the pen, or (3) force anybody to adopt a code of conduct. The Department also will not wait for privacy legislation to pass: it will move forward in convening multistakeholder discussions, and it will continue its ongoing dialogue with the FTC.
Leibowitz noted that self-regulatory efforts have led to a series of positive steps to protect consumer privacy, even though these initiatives have not yet been fully implemented. He called industry codes of conduct a promising development, and he made four observations about the multistakeholder process: (1) it must be driven by clear standards, (2) it needs to be transparent and involve all stakeholders, (3) it should result in enforceable standards, and (4) the resulting standards need to be strong – and non-regulatory standards that can be easily implemented by businesses would be even better. Leibowitz also mentioned that the FTC is still in the process of reviewing the 450+ comments submitted about its Dec. 2010 preliminary staff report on protecting consumer privacy, and that it expects to issue a final report later this year.
The event was well-attended, drawing representatives from industry, academia, consumer advocacy groups, other government institutions, and the press.


DOL Fiduciary Rule Update
Firms have spent more than a year and millions of dollars preparing for the DOL Fiduciary rule, set to commence on April 10. This rule requires retirement plan service providers, such as brokers, advisors and recordkeepers to act in the best interests of clients when working with retirement accounts.
However, on February 3, the White House directed the DOL to evaluate the Fiduciary Rule and the related prohibited transaction exemptions to determine whether the guidance will harm investors, disrupt the industry, or cause an increase in litigation and the price of advice. After its analysis, the DOL can implement the rules as drafted, modify them or rescind them.
The DOL filed notices on February 9 to delay implementation of rule for 180 days and seek public comments. It is likely the OMB will accept the DOL notice, and service providers will not need to comply with the Fiduciary Rule by April 10. Instead, they will be held to the existing fiduciary standards and prohibited transaction exemptions for the time being. When or if the fiduciary rule is implemented—and in what form—is uncertain


Poor lighting at water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities may reduce the usage of latrines and other services such as bathing
In the Humanitarian Innovation Fund Gap Analysis for water, sanitation, and hygiene issues, field staff identified environmental man
After the Ebola outbreak was declared in Sierra Leone, in June 2014, early messages about the high mortality rate of Ebola were met
When the Asian tsunami struck the Andaman Islands, nearly 7,000 people were relocated in six camps.


Before liberalism, what did democracy imply? What impact does this have on our lives today? This book recovers the essential meaning of democracy as communal and restricted self-government by citizens by combining history and political philosophy.
'Demopolis,' a hypothetical contemporary state vividly envisaged by award-winning historian and political scientist Josiah Ober, uses participatory self-government as the foundation of political activity. Residents of Demopolis strive to create a safe, affluent, and non-tyrannical city in which citizens rule collectively, both directly and through representatives, and gladly bear the expenses of self-government since it benefits them both collectively and individually.
"[Ober uses] rich history of democracy in ancient Athens with modern game-theoretic tools to illustrate how individuals in today’s society could create a democratic order despite being skeptical of political liberalism."
"Ober takes on the crucial function of reminding readers that a lack of liberalism or liberal outcomes does not always imply a lack of democracy."
"Excellent book. Ober highlights the value of democracy as an autonomous socio-political good we must protect and develop."


Typically, an urgent need for adoptive families exists in the foster care system. Children in foster care are in temporary custody of the state due to abuse, neglect and abandonment. In an effort to reduce the number of children languishing in foster care, several agencies specialize in special needs adoptions. The term "special needs adoption" refers to the adoption of children who are hard to place. Those with this classification include children with physical disabilities, mental health challenges, children exposed to drugs, alcohol or HIV, sibling groups, biracial children, and children of color.
Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) - DFCS is a division of the Georgia Department of Human Services, and is responsible for numerous child welfare services, including securing temporary and permanent homes for children in the department's care (i.e., in temporary custody of the state of Georgia) In addition to finding foster and adoptive homes, DFCS also provides child care assistance to to qualifying families. DFCS partners with WAGA Fox 5 Atlanta to present the award-winning Wednesday's Child feature of children in immediate need of a permanent home.
Adopt America Network - Works to find adoptive homes for children currently available for adoption.
AdoptUSKids - A project of the U.S. Children's Bureau, AdoptUSKids helps to connect youth in foster care with prospective foster and adoptive families.
CHRIS180 - CHRIS is an acronym for Creativity, Honor, Respect, Integrity and Safety. CHRIS Kids provides therapeutic behavioral and mental health services to children in foster care.
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption - Nonprofit organization which collaborates with adoption agencies and awards small grants to agencies connecting foster children to safe, permanent homes.
Families First - Collaborates with placement agencies to help foster children find permanent families.


Abstract
We report a young patient who presented with nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy associated with the sticky platelet syndrome (SPS, a congenital prothrombotic disorder). A 15-year-old boy presented with a sudden, painless onset of a right inferior altitudinal visual field defect and marked optic disc oedema. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (including orbits), orbital ultrasound and haematological investigations including a routine hypercoagulability work-up were negative. Further evaluation showed a positive assay for SPS which was confirmed on repeat testing. The SPS (characterized by platelet hyperaggregability and vascular occlusion) may be a potential thrombophilic risk factor for nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy.
Keywords Hypercoagul ability Optic neuropathy Opticdisc oedema Platelet Thrombosis


The need for a Just Transition is crucial for workers and communities
As COP27 negotiations are ongoing in the first half of November, you may have seen many news stories and events invites calling for a “Just Transition”. Originally a concept developed within the trade union movement and communities affected by economic transitions away from polluting industries, it is now an internationally recognized set of principles that, if followed, will protect workers and communities during the global transition to a low carbon economy.
There is no single binding agreement on what Just Transition is and how policies must incorporate its principles, however, leaving interpretation open to the influence of corporate interests. This is why the COP negotiations represent an important battleground – the Paris Agreement enshrines a Just Transition for workers, and states are expected to integrate Just Transition into their commitments and climate plans.
The video below provides a basic overview of the concept and highlights the crucial role of the trade union movement in ensuring a Just Transition for workers and communities.


Spark plugs are vital for a vehicle’s performance. They deliver the spark that ignites the mixture of fuel and air in the combustion chamber. Correctly installing a spark plug is essential to the engine’s performance.
Most spark plugs are tightened between 8 – 40 Nm and should be installed to the manufacturer specified torque setting using a torque wrench to avoid over or under-tightening. The larger the spark plug thread size, the more tightening it typically requires.
Because spark plugs are so important to an engine’s function, it’s critical to double-check the torque settings for your specific ones before installing them. Let’s look at how to handle spark plugs installation and the effect of loose and tight plugs.
Can You Over-Tighten Spark Plugs?
It’s not advisable to over-tighten spark plugs. The extra torque stresses the metallic shell, breaking the threads in the cylinder head and spark plug or fracturing the insulator.
When installing spark plugs, it’s vital to adhere to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Too much torque damages the threads in both the spark plug and the cylinder head.
It also stresses the interior seal in the spark plug or causes a hairline fracture on the insulator.
Symptoms of Over-Tightened Spark Plugs
The symptoms of over-tightened spark plugs include unpredictable misfires, reduced RPMs, and problematic engine starts. Additionally, you’ll find that:
Overly tight spark plugs are hard to remove
Loosening a spark plug screwed too tight is difficult, if not impossible.
Build up from corrosion, deposits, and debris glues the spark plug to the cylinder head.
Loose Objects can get in Combustion Chamber
Another possible effect is the spark plug electrode or insulator breaking.
These pieces can end up in the combustion chamber, ruining the surfaces they come into contact with.
What Happens When Spark Plugs Are Too Tight or Loose? 1. Loose Spark Plugs
Loose spark plugs affect the overall performance and damage the engine in the long run. Engine mounts, both rubber, and hydro-elastic, should be able to repress the internal vibrations.
If the spark plugs are loose, these vibrations are not absorbed. The plugs become more open with distance, affecting the cylinder performance.
Too little torque affects the spark plug’s position on the cylinder head. There is inadequate contact with the cylinder head, which hinders heat transmission.
There is minimal compression inside the cylinder, and oxygen gets inhaled through the loosened plug during the downward stroke. Excessive oxygen and reduced condensation lead to power loss and engine misfires.
Other issues that may arise are: Poor Engine Performance
When one or all spark plugs are not well attached to the cylinder heads, it can lead to difficulties when starting the engine, reduced acceleration rate, and misfires.
Engine Pre-Ignition
A loose spark plug can lead to overheating and improper combustion. If this happens, the over-heated surface causes pre-ignition.
Harmful Detonation
Detonation refers to the unpredictable combustion in the engine, which presents as knocking or pinging. It leads to total engine failure or permanent damage.
Dead Cylinder and Piston Damage
When a spark plug is loosely fit, it can detach completely, leaving a dead cylinder as the vehicle is moving.
2. Tight Spark Plugs
Attempting to remove a tight spark plug can affect the bolt hole. The cylinder head has a bolt hole that should always remain in good condition.
Any damage, deformity, or stripping is detrimental as installing a new spark plug won’t be possible. It ends up costing you even more in repairs.
Stripped Threads
The metallic shell on a spark plug tends to stretch when tightened too much. As a result, the threads break away or crack. It can also fracture the insulator or break the interior gas seals.
Additionally, the heat dissipation minimizes, causing pre-ignition and eventual engine damage.
When threads get stripped, the spark plug keeps rotating without tightening. The only solution is to replace the head or fix the Helicoil, which is an expensive procedure.
Once a spark plug gets tightened excessively, you will need a replacement since the compression in the gasket is single-use.
How to Know If Your Spark Plugs Are Too Tight
The best way to check the tightness is by inspecting the spark plugs themselves.
When too loose, we can easily turn them around by hand.
When too tight, it’s not possible to turn them, even using a wrench.
How Tight Should I Tighten My Spark Plugs?
When installing the spark plugs with tapered seats, we can use our hands to the point where it becomes finger-tight.
Next, use a spark plug wrench to turn the plug an additional 1/16th turn, in line with the manufacturer’s directions for a 14mm thread.
Better yet, get a torque wrench to ensure that you’re tightening them to the exact tightness needed!
What’s the Proper Tightening Procedure? The first step is cleaning the cylinder head to remove debris and the threads on the spark plug. Next follows screwing the spark plug in till the cylinder head makes contact with the gasket. Tightening With a Torque Wrench
Different spark plug manufacturers have varying torque specifications. This information is available online.
We have to search for the details on specifications.
Tightening Without a Torque Wrench
If we don’t have a torque wrench, screw in the spark plug manually, and then tighten using a plug wrench.
Some manufacturer specifications include:
Autolite Spark Plugs
If the spark plug has a gasket use;
1/4 turn for 10mm plugs 3/8 turn for 12mm plugs 1/2 turn for both 14mm and 18mm plugs
If it has a tapered seat, use 1/16 turn
Bosch Spark Plugs
If the spark plug has a gasket, use a 1/4 turn, and for those with a tapered seat, use a 1/16 turn.
Champion Spark Plugs
For spark plugs with a gasket, use a 3/8 to 5/8 turn. For those that have a tapered seat, use a 1/16 turn.
Denso Spark Plugs
If the plug has a gasket, use a 1/4 to 1/2 turn. If it has a tapered seat, use a 1/8 turn
E3 Spark Plug
For spark plugs that have a gasket, use;
1/2 turn for 10mm plugs 3/8 to 1/2 turn for 12mm plugs 1/2 to 3/4 turn for 14mm plugs
For plugs that have a tapered seat, use a 1/16 turn
NGK Spark Plugs
If the plug has a gasket, use a 1/2 to 2/3 turn. If it has a tapered seat, use a 1/12 to 1/8 turn.
During spark plug installation, the mechanic should use the appropriate torque wrench to match the torque indicated on the spark plug package.
If the spark plugs are too tight or too loose, it may cause oil leakage in the spark plug case. The oil may end up getting heated and starting a flame while we are driving or end up damaging other engine components.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Can I Use Anti-Seize on Spark Plugs?
It’s best to avoid using any anti-seize lubricants on the threads. The lubricants minimize the friction created by threads, leading to over-tightening.
Can I Change My Spark Plugs?
With some mechanical knowledge, you can change the spark plugs on your own. Keep in mind that even slight errors during installation can have a severe impact on your engine.


As crypto-currencies are currently still little regulated and their value fluctuates relatively strongly, this not only entails certain business risks - there are also risks in the audit of the financial statements, for example the valuation uncertainty. If a company holds a significant part of its assets in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, there are several things to consider. In addition to the profession of auditing, specific knowledge about the crypto ecosystem and blockchain is necessary.
In the article "
Kryptos fordern die Abschlussprüfer", Christian Bögli and Michael Merz explain which audit risks exist for companies with cryptocurrencies and how they can be minimised.


Aromatherapy massage is used for a variety of different reasons, including relaxation, pain management, and improved mood. These are also some of the basic benefits of massage therapy. Adding essential oils is thought to enhance such benefits.Aromatherapy is often added to a traditional massage session as an extra service. The massage therapist might diffuse an essential oil in the room during your session or they might add a few drops of oil to massage lotion and apply it directly to your skin.Aromatherapy massage usesMassage therapy itself consists of the manipulation of muscles and lymph nodes through professional pressing and rubbing techniques.Some types of massages include:


In the previous sections of this edition of the Market Overview, we presented the demand and supply outlook for platinum and palladium. In that part, we would like to analyze the potential benefits of adding these precious metals into the investment portfolio.
The gold-to-silver ratio is the most popular ratio among the precious metals. However, we can also link gold prices to platinum prices. Mathematically, the gold-to-platinum ratio is the price of gold divided by the price of platinum.


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This report examines data from 31,000 households about their children's experiences in STEM learning in afterschool. Findings indicate that compared to 2014 data, in 2020 more afterschool programs are offering STEM, but gender and income inequities exist.
This report summarizes survey data collected in 2020, both before and during the pandemic; it is the fourth survey, preceded by findings from 2004, 2009, 2014.
This webpage offers a variety of resources focused on building resilience in children who face adverse experiences, challenges, and/or hardships.
This website provides basic information about substance misuse among families with children.